This 4-day journey follows the thread of Japanese porcelain from Tokyo into the workshops of Ishikawa and Gifu, where two of the country’s great ceramic traditions are still made by hand. Departing by bullet train and returning the same way, the itinerary is designed for travellers drawn to craft — those who would rather meet the artisans and hold the work than simply admire it behind glass.

Begin in Kanazawa with the timeless beauty of Kenrokuen Garden and the wooden teahouses of the Higashi Chaya District, then spend a full day in the Kutani pottery villages of Nomi. Visit the KAM Kutani Ceramic Art Museum with its rare climbing kiln, hand-paint your own porcelain in Kutani’s five signature colours alongside an artisan, and call at two celebrated working kilns where the tradition continues today. Travel on to Nagoya for the golden shachi of Nagoya Castle, before finishing in Tajimi — the heart of Mino ware — with the Tajimi Mino Ware Museum, a session at the potter’s wheel, and the gallery-lined lanes of Honmachi Oribe Street.

With a knowledgeable English-speaking guide, private transfers between the rural kilns, and a compact schedule that begins and ends in Tokyo, this tour offers a seamless way to reach workshops that are difficult to visit independently — ideal for collectors, makers and anyone wanting to add a focused craft experience to a longer stay in Japan.

Why This Tour Stands Out

• Encounter two great porcelain traditions — Kutani ware and Mino ware — in a single journey.
• Hand-paint Kutani porcelain and shape your own piece at a Mino pottery studio.
• Visit working kilns and museums rarely accessible without local arrangements.
• A compact 4-day itinerary starting and finishing in Tokyo, easy to add to your existing travel plans.

Tour Pricing

Tour prices do not include airfare, guide tips, meals, or transportation to/from airports.

*Exchange rate used: 1 USD = 160 JPY

Group size is flexible—please contact us for details.

Please note that prices may also vary during high-demand periods, including:
・March–April (spring season)
・Year-end and New Year holidays
・Obon holiday period (mid-August)
・Autumn foliage season
・Long holiday weekends

Final pricing will be confirmed based on travel dates and availability.

Itinerary

Day 1 | Kanazawa

• Meet your guide at Tokyo Station
• Bullet train from Tokyo to Kanazawa
• Visit Kenrokuen Garden (one of Japan’s three great gardens, stunning in every season)
• Explore Higashi Chaya District (historic district of traditional wooden teahouses and geisha culture)

Hotel: 3 Star Hotel in Kanazawa

Day 2 | Kanazawa

• Private transfer to the Kutani pottery villages of Nomi
• Visit KAM Kutani Ceramic Art Museum (Kutani masterpieces with a rare traditional climbing kiln on site)
• Kutani Gosai Painting Experience (hand-paint porcelain in Kutani’s five signature colors with an artisan)
• Visit a renowned Kutani kiln (known for refined, elegant porcelain)
• Visit a historic Kutani kiln (prized for handcrafted works)
• Lunch at a local restaurant

Hotel: 3 Star Hotel in Kanazawa

Day 3 | Nagoya

• Bullet train and limited express from Kanazawa to Nagoya
• Visit Nagoya Castle (iconic castle crowned with golden shachi and a restored palace)

Hotel: 3 Star Hotel in Nagoya

Day 4 | Tajimi and Tokyo

• Visit Tajimi Mino Ware Museum (explore 1,300 years of Mino ware, from Shino to Oribe)
• Mino Ware Pottery Experience (try the potter’s wheel or painting to craft your own piece)
• Explore Honmachi Oribe Street (historic pottery-merchant street lined with Mino ware shops and galleries)
• Bullet train from Nagoya to Tokyo
• Lunch at a local restaurant

Hotel: 3 Star Hotel in Tokyo

If you’d like to extend your stay, add experiences, or arrange hotels only without a guide, we’re happy to customize your plans.

Inclusions

• Private tour
• Dedicated English-speaking guide on sightseeing days
• 4 days itinerary
• 3 nights accommodation in 3 star accommodation
• Breakfast everyday
• Two lunches at local restaurants
• Kutani Gosai painting experience in Nomi
• Mino ware pottery experience in Tajimi
• Private transfers between the Kutani kilns
• Public transportation
• All entry fees to sites, activities as specified
• Ride the shinkansen bullet train

Exclusions

• International airfares
• Arrival airport transfer / Departure airport transfer
• Visas
• Tipping
• Optional activities
• Personal expenses
• Luggage transfer for bullet train (if required)
• Travel Insurance
• Anything not mentioned in the itinerary

Important Notes

If your inquiry is made within three months of your desired arrival date, the above prices may not apply. In such cases, we will provide a custom quotation based on availability and travel conditions.

Pieces created during the Kutani painting and Mino pottery experiences require firing after your visit. Completed works are usually ready several weeks later and can be shipped to your home address; shipping fees are payable directly to the studio.

This tour begins at Tokyo Station on Day 1 and ends in Tokyo on the evening of Day 4. A guide accompanies you on Days 1, 2 and 4; the travel day to Nagoya and the final return leg to Tokyo are arranged without a guide.

Tell Us More, and We’ll Find the Best Plan for You

Interested in this 4-day package? Contact us anytime to begin planning your trip.

If you would like to extend your stay or add more experiences, we can arrange additional days, activities, or accommodations upon request.

We also offer fully customized itineraries tailored to your interests and travel style. To learn more, check out Tailor-Made Tour by ENJYU JAPAN.